Tuesday, September 10, 2013

medieval History of Garhwal, Kumaon and Doti Nepal (Asian Medieval History (740-1200 AD)



                                                                                                                            ByBhishma Kukreti



                                         Territory of Katyuri Kingdom of 1000-1090 History Periods


       There are fewer records available for knowing the total are of Katyuri kingdom (Jay Singh Dev to Katar Mal Dev 1000-1090).
 The Katyuri kingdom was divided into district, the district was divided into Mandals (as tehseel or Mandal of today’s’ time); Madal was divided into Thakurai; Thakurai was divided into Gadh, Kot or Thokdaris. The in charge of Kot or Gadh were called Gadhpatti or Kotpati .
              Due to constant attacks of Mahmud Ghazni on north India, many army men were entering into Uttarakhand hills for shelters. The ambitious local persons were taking help of these emigrant armed men and establishing Thakurai.
                The different regions of Katyuri kingdom were based on geographical, linguistic, cultural, social and religious exclusivities.  There were exclusivities of each region from life style; dresses, even animals domestication and animals point of views too.
   Initially, the regional heads were either Katyuri or Khasas. The regional chieftains wee very important as they were capable to change the king too.
  The following main regions or Mandals (as today’s Tehseel) were there –

                             Tankan Mandal
  The north territory of Garhwal or Kedarbhumi  was called Tankan Region. The region is/was attached to Tibetan boundary. Each village of Neeti and Mana region used to be Gadh of Tankan region. Other Gadh were Kartikeypur, Tapovan, Parsari, Painkhanda, Khanda and Dashauli.

              Durmarg Mandal or Region

              Durmarg region was Mandakini valley. There was peace in the region. Therefore, many temples were built in the region/Mandal. Main Gadhs were Nagpur and Kandara.

              Badahat Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

 The Badahat Mandal was extended from Yamuna- Bhagirathi and Bhagirathi- Bhilangana valleys.
The Gadhs of North-West Badahat:- Gadhtang, Jor, Biralta, Silgadh, Mungra, Sankari, Badkot, Todarkwara, Rami Gadhs. There were infighting of these Gdhs with Gadhs of Kinnaur and Sirmaur of Himachal Pradesh.
The Gadhs of West Badahat-  Udaypur, Kirtingar, Bangar, Chilla,Pratapnagar,, Bhardar, Bhilang Gadh.
Uppugadh was under Badahat region. Ramola Garh was in Mukheem.

  Rath-Chanth Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

  Present Badhan, Chandpur, Chaund, Top, Ranigarh, Lohaba, Dhauna, Vangarh, Kanda, Gujdu, and Savli were main Gadh. Dewalgarh was also under Rath Region.

              Mal, Salan Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

  The south of present Garhwal was called Salan or Mal Mandal.
Mahab Garh, Bagh, Ajmeer, Shri Guru, Mavakot, Gatkot, Bhairon garh, Ghughti, Badalpur, Laldhang, Chandi, Santur, Kola, Sher, Nanor, Nala Virbhadra, Mordhwaj, Kunjani, Ratan, Kuili, Bharpur, etc regions were under Salan or mal region.

                 Lakha Mandal of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
     Sirmaur and Doon valley was under this region. Salmur, Kota, Sirmaur were main Gadh.


             Katyur Danpur Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

  The region is in present Kumaun and main Gadh were Danpur, Harkot, Dhurkot, Kapkot, Karvipur,. Khasa were chieftains.

         Pali Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

 The head quarter was Dwarhat. Dwarhat, Asurgadhi, Juniyagadhi, Dauralkot, Naithana, Manila were main Gadh of Pali Mandal.

             Bara Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)
  The bara Mandal was extended to the bank of Sual River. Vishaud, Khagmara, Faldakot, Dhaniyakot, Syunara, Tikhaun, Pankot, Raila, Parkot, Talla Kot, Malla Kot, Majkot, Budhlakot, were main Kot or forts. The Khasia chieftains were cruel.

                             Kota Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

     Shitalhat, Batikhahi, Mahrudi, Parkot, Dhikuli, Lakhanpur, Kashipur, Govishan, Lohakot, were main Gadh of this Bhabhar region. The region was always disturbed by attacks from plains of kings or regional chieftains.
                   Kali Kumaon Mandal or region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

  Domkot, Champawat, Kautol, Sui, Chamul, Chandi, Chhat, Baun, Son, Koyal, Kaida, Malua, were main Gadhs of this region.


             Gangoli Mandal or region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

                Manikot, Gangolihat, Vankot, Jamankot, were main Gadh of this Mandal.

                Saur Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom Period (1000-1090AD)

        Ucha, Bhat, Bailar, udaypur, Dungara, Sahaj, Babhuva, Devdhar and Duni were main Gadh of Saur Mandal.

      Seera Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom Period (1000-1090AD)

 Didihat, Seerakot, were main Gadh. The fort of Seerakot was unwinnable.

  Askot Mandal or region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

Askot had eighty forts or Gadh. It was also called Khaskot or Muskot.

      Bhot Mandal or region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090 AD)
  The Bhot mandal was divided into East Bhot region and west Bhot region.
Juhar or Jubar was in west Bhot region.
Darma, Vyans and Chaundas Gadh were under this region.
The rules of Katyuri kings were nominal on the chieftains of Bhot.

 Kalipar or Doti Mandal or Region of Katyuri Kingdom (1000-1090AD)

 The Doti (today’s Nepal) had main Gadhs as Itri, Devra, Gadhi Charail, Dandel, Tilari, Baitadi, Matiyala, Karala, Rajkot, Silgadhi, Talkot, Ramkot, Dillikot, Dulukot, Dailekhkot,. There are descriptions of Jurail, Dipail, Bajrail, Ajmir in folklores.

                    Subjects of Katyuri Kingdom of Indian, Himalayan Medieval Period (before 1090)


 The people were Khasa in Katyuri kingdom. Dr Katoch states that Katyuris were Khasa too.

                Shelters for Artists

   Katyuri kings used to respect art and artists. The temples of this period are proof that Katyuri respected and encouraged art and artists.

                        Arrival of External Brahmins and Rajput

     In past Brahmins and Rajputs used to settle in Uttrakhand from various parts of India but in scanty numbers.  In eleventh century onwards,  Rajputs and Brahmins arrived in mass. These external people exploited the local mass.

Courtey  Bhishma Kukreti - (The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)